Headlines
Kano traders protest stalls demolition
Muktar Yahya Usman
Roadside traders along Abubakar Rimi Market Sabon Gari Kano set up bonfires Monday morning to protest the demolishing of their stalls by the Kano state government.
Kano Focus reports that a Kano state government committee on clearing illegal structures on walkways had demolished stalls along the Market walls in the early hours of Saturday and Sunday respectively.
The committee headed by Baffa Babba Dan Agundi Managing Director, Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) has representatives from DSS, Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) and Refuse Management and Sanitation Board (REMASAB), among others.
One of the protesters Rabi’u Abdulhamid told Kano Focus that KAROTA operatives on Friday demolished their roadside tables and stalls which forced them to move back to the market pavement.
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“We thought they didn’t want us to trade on the road so we moved to the pavement and erected our stalls.
“However, KAROTA operatives returned under the leadership of Bappa Danagundi and demolished our stalls again.
“The most annoying thing is that they packed away all our belongings.” He lamented.
Another protester Saminu Abubakar wondered how their stalls could be called illegal when they had been paying taxes to the authorities.
“We pay tax every year through the market authority, and if you fail to pay, the market authority will seize your stall and stop you from doing business.
“We have paid this year’s rent and these are the receipts, but they just gave us less than 24 hours’ notice before demolishing our stalls.” He said.
Another protester, Abdulmuminu Salihu urged the government to refund the taxes and rent they had paid.
“We pay N20,000 to N30,000 per year and we have already paid for this year.
“So we have to protest to protect ourselves from the tyranny of KAROTA.”
However, Managing Director Abubakar Rimi Market Muhammad Uba Zubairu denied the claim that roadside traders pay rent to the market authority.
“We are not collecting any money from the roadside traders – neither rent nor taxes.
“They pay N25,000 to the shop owners that allow them to squat in front of their shops.
“The government charges N10,500 rent per shop but the shop owners charge N25,000 per roadside stall.
“However, that is a personal arrangement between them without anything going to the government.” Mr Zubairu said.
In a related development, KAROTA spokesperson Abubakar Nabilusi Kofar Na’isa stated that the Committee had given the roadside traders six months’ notice to vacate the premises or face demolition.
Mr Kofar Na’isa stated on Monday afternoon that successive Kano state administrations had offered to relocate the traders to Bompai, Bachirawa, and Rijiyar Zaki in the metropolis but they refused the offer.
He therefore warned the traders from “causing public disturbances” as KAROTA and security agencies will not tolerate that.
He however urged those whose property was carted away by the KAROTA operatives to report to the Sabon Gari Market police division.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited has announced that its ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) remains unchanged, reaffirming its commitment to stability in Nigeria’s domestic energy market.
In a statement issued by Esan Sunday, Head of Media Relations, Branding and Communication, the company said sustaining the current price reflects its efforts to cushion the broader economy against external shocks. It noted that by absorbing prevailing cost pressures, the refinery is helping to moderate inflationary risks, promote energy affordability, and ensure uninterrupted fuel supply amid ongoing global uncertainties.
The company reiterated its dedication to the steady supply of high-quality petroleum products to the Nigerian market, while aligning with national objectives of price stability and energy security.
It also urged the public to rely solely on official communications from the refinery for accurate and up-to-date information regarding its operations and pricing.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo on his emergence as the Deputy Governor of Kano State following his swearing-in on Tuesday.
KANO FOCUS reports that Garo was sworn in by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf after being nominated to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former deputy governor, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described Garo’s appointment as a positive step toward strengthening unity within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State.
The President noted that the 48-year-old politician has held several public offices, including Chairman of Kabo Local Government Area and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs during the administration of former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. He also served as the APC governorship running mate in the 2023 general elections.
Tinubu commended Governor Yusuf for the appointment, urging political stakeholders in the state to rally behind the administration to ensure stability and progress.
He also called on the new deputy governor to work closely with the governor in delivering effective leadership and accelerating development in Kano State.
The President wished Garo success in his new role.
Ibrahim Khalil
A dramatic political moment unfolded in Kano on Tuesday as former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje publicly acknowledged Muhammad Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and Chairman of the Kano State Council of Emirs.
KANO FOCUS reports that the unexpected gesture occurred during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed Deputy Governor, Murtala Sule Garo, at Government House, Kano—an event attended by top political leaders and traditional rulers.
While delivering his goodwill message, Ganduje addressed Sanusi by his full royal title, drawing immediate attention from dignitaries at the ceremony. The audience responded with loud applause when he greeted the Emir and recognised his position as head of the Kano Emirate Council.
The development is particularly significant given the long-standing rift between the two figures. Sanusi was removed from the throne during Ganduje’s administration, a decision that sparked widespread political and legal controversy at the time.
However, the political landscape shifted following the emergence of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, under whose administration Sanusi was reinstated as Emir of Kano.
Observers say Ganduje’s public acknowledgment signals a possible easing of tensions and may point to broader efforts at reconciliation within Kano’s political and traditional institutions.
The moment has since been described by analysts as a “twist of fate” in Kano politics, where former rivalries appear to be giving way to cautious gestures of respect among key actors.
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